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Alphabet Inc.: Q3 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 October 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • First quarter above $100 billion: Revenue rose 16%, or 15% in constant currency, to $102.3 billion from $88.3 billion a year earlier. Management called it the first quarter above $100 billion. Source
  • Google Cloud growth led by GCP: Google Cloud revenue rose 34%, and its operating income reached $3.6 billion from $1.9 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Search and YouTube ads grew: Search & other revenue reached $56.6 billion from $49.4 billion. YouTube ads reached $10.3 billion from $8.9 billion. Google Network was $7.4 billion, slightly below last year. Source
  • EC fine accrued in Q3: The European Commission imposed a $3.5 billion fine for infringing European competition laws. It was accrued in general and administrative expenses in Google Services. Source
  • Operating margin excluding the fine: GAAP operating income rose 9% to $31.2 billion, with a 30.5% margin. Excluding the fine, operating income rose 22% to $34.7 billion, with a 33.9% margin. Source
  • Free cash flow for the quarter: Free cash flow was $24.5 billion for the quarter and $73.6 billion on a trailing twelve-month basis, both non-GAAP measures. Source

“Alphabet had a terrific quarter, with double-digit growth across every major part of our business.”

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Capital expenditures Source2025 full year$91 billion to $93 billionRaised from approximately $85 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2025 capital expenditure range raised from approximately $85 billion to $91 billion to $93 billion. Source
  • New: European Commission fine of $3.5 billion recorded in Q3 2025 general and administrative expenses. Source
  • New: U.S. tax law changes enacted July 4, 2025 allow immediate expensing and accelerated depreciation; effects are in Q3 operating cash flows. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • First quarter above $100 billion: Revenue rose 16%, or 15% in constant currency, to $102.3 billion from $88.3 billion a year earlier. Management called it the first quarter above $100 billion. Source
  • Net income and EPS both rose: Net income rose 33% to $35.0 billion. Diluted EPS rose 35% to $2.87 from $2.12 a year earlier. Source
  • Double-digit growth across major lines: Google Search & other, YouTube ads, subscriptions, platforms and devices, and Google Cloud each grew by double digits in the quarter. Source

Segments and regions

  • Google Services operating income rose: Google Services operating income was $33.5 billion, up from $30.9 billion. Management tied revenue growth to Search, subscriptions, platforms, devices, and YouTube ads. Source
  • Google Cloud growth led by GCP: Google Cloud revenue rose 34%, and its operating income reached $3.6 billion from $1.9 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Other Bets loss widened: Other Bets revenue was $344 million against $388 million a year earlier. Its operating loss widened to $1.4 billion from $1.1 billion. Source
  • Revenue grew in every region: United States revenue rose 13% to $48.8 billion. EMEA rose 17%, or 12% in constant currency. APAC rose 22% and Other Americas rose 19%. Source

“We delivered our first-ever $100 billion quarter," said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google.”

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google

Products, AI and customer demand

  • Search and YouTube ads grew: Search & other revenue reached $56.6 billion from $49.4 billion. YouTube ads reached $10.3 billion from $8.9 billion. Google Network was $7.4 billion, slightly below last year. Source
  • AI Overviews and AI Mode rolled out: Management said AI Overviews and AI Mode in Search were rolled out globally, and cited the speed of the rollout. Source
  • Gemini tokens processed through API: First-party models such as Gemini process 7 billion tokens per minute through direct API use by customers, management said. Source
  • Cloud demand cited for capex: Management linked the higher 2025 capital expenditure range to growth across the business and demand from Cloud customers. Source

Costs, margins and other income

  • EC fine accrued in Q3: The European Commission imposed a $3.5 billion fine for infringing European competition laws. It was accrued in general and administrative expenses in Google Services. Source
  • Operating margin excluding the fine: GAAP operating income rose 9% to $31.2 billion, with a 30.5% margin. Excluding the fine, operating income rose 22% to $34.7 billion, with a 33.9% margin. Source
  • Traffic acquisition costs rose: Total traffic acquisition costs were $14.9 billion, up from $13.7 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Other income from equity gains: Other income was $12.8 billion, mainly from net unrealized gains on non-marketable equity securities, compared with $3.2 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Equity gain added to diluted EPS: The equity securities gain and performance fees raised the tax provision by $2.2 billion, net income by $8.3 billion, and diluted EPS by $0.68. Source

“We are investing to meet customer demand and capitalize on the growing opportunities across the company.”

Alphabet Inc., press release

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Free cash flow for the quarter: Free cash flow was $24.5 billion for the quarter and $73.6 billion on a trailing twelve-month basis, both non-GAAP measures. Source
  • Capital spending rose in quarter: Purchases of property and equipment were $24.0 billion, against $13.1 billion a year earlier. Source
  • U.S. tax law affects operating cash: New U.S. tax law allows immediate expensing of domestic research costs and accelerated depreciation. Its effects are included in Q3 operating cash flows. Source

Shareholder returns and balance sheet

  • Buybacks below last year's level: Stock repurchases were $11.5 billion in the quarter, against $15.3 billion a year earlier, and $40.2 billion for the nine months. Source
  • Dividend payments increased: Dividend payments were $2,537 million in the quarter, against $2,455 million a year earlier. Source
  • Debt proceeds and repayments: Debt proceeds were $38.0 billion for the nine months, and repayments were $26.1 billion over the same period. Source
  • Cash and securities balance: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $98.5 billion at September 30, 2025, up from $95.7 billion at December 31, 2024. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted share count was 12.2 billion, against 12.4 billion a year earlier. Source

Headcount and investment

  • Headcount rose year over year: Employees numbered 190,167 at quarter end, up from 181,269 a year earlier. Source
  • Investing to meet customer demand: Management said the company is investing to meet customer demand and capitalize on growing opportunities across the company. Source
  • Property and equipment grew: Property and equipment, net was $223.8 billion, up from $171.0 billion at December 31, 2024. Non-marketable securities rose to $63.8 billion from $38.0 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 October 2025

  • Quarterly dividend payable December 15: Board declared a $0.21 quarterly cash dividend for Class A, B and C shares, payable December 15, 2025, to holders of record on December 8, 2025. Source
  • Form 10-Q for the quarter: Management said additional information will be set forth in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2025. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Google Cloud backlog Source$155 billion
Paid subscriptions Sourceover 300 million
Gemini App monthly active users Sourceover 650 million
Tokens processed per minute via direct API Source7 billion tokens per minute
Google subscriptions, platforms, and devices revenue Source$12.9 billion
Google Cloud revenue Source$15.2 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Regulatory: The European Commission found Google infringed European competition laws; the $3.5 billion fine reduced Q3 operating income. Source
  • Financial: Changes in the value of investments could drive large swings in other income in future periods. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.